HANOVER, N.J. — It was the original BMO Field halftime tunnel tussle.
Before Toronto FC and Club America brawled midway through the first leg of their Concacaf Champions League semifinal encounter, the New York Red Bulls and TFC squared off in the red-tinted tunnel during the second leg of a contentious MLS Eastern Conference semifinal series last season.
It was a melee that made the rounds on social media and resulted in suspensions and red cards to the main combatants — Sacha Kljestan of the Red Bulls and TFC’s Jozy Altidore.
For the first time since that BMO brawl, the Eastern Conference rivals meet up again in Toronto Sunday afternoon.
But don’t expect any carryover from November’s fireworks. After all, Kljestan is with Orlando City SC and Altidore is sidelined following foot surgery.
Plus, time heals old wounds, right?
“It feels so long ago, to be honest,” Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles said. “I can speak for this group, and it doesn’t feel like there’s anything left over. We do feel a little bitter they knocked us out of the playoffs, but as far as the little melee that happened at halftime, that’s over and done with.”
However, don’t expect the game to be a friendly affair either.
“I think when these two teams play each other there’s a lot of competitive energy, will and respect, but animosity and the whole bit,” Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch said. “That’s what I think we’ll see. I mean it will be funny seeing the tunnel again knowing what went on there, but I don’t think anyone really is carrying that with them other than this is a chance for us to continue to show what kind of team we are.”
The Red Bulls (9-4-2) head to Toronto on the heels of an impressive 3-0 win over FC Dallas in a match that saw them reduced to 10 men in the 27th minute when Danny Royer was sent off following a video review of him stomping Jacori Hayes.
Marsch said Royer will be sorely missed, especially as an additional scoring option for Bradley Wright-Phillips. Derrick Etienne Jr., Alex Muyl and Ben Mines are in contention for his spot in the starting XI.
“I think Derrick is a real threat to get behind, Alex tactically really understands what we do and is a good fit in terms of the work rate and fitting into the team and Ben is a little crafty in one-v-one situations,” Marsch said.
While the Red Bulls, who have lost just once in their last nine league games, are playing some of their best soccer of the season, Toronto FC (4-8-3) has been mired in a nightmarish first half of the year following a banner 2017 that saw them win a rare treble — the MLS Cup, the Supporters Shield and the Canadian Championship.
TFC has just one win in its last five games, and the team was criticized by coach Greg Vanney for lack of effort late in a 2-1 loss to New York City FC Sunday at Yankee Stadium.
“I think we’re catching them at a very dangerous time. I think they were very disappointed and now being criticized for their effort in New York City,” Marsch said. “I think we’re going to see a team that is very convicted at home, need a result, don’t like the team they’re playing against and find a way to do everything they can to get a victory on the day. That’s everything we’re expecting.”
The Red Bulls have answered the bell against the league’s elite teams in a big way this year, with victories over Atlanta United, NYCFC, FC Dallas and the Portland Timbers, while drawing Columbus Crew SC.
Regardless of where they are in the Eastern Conference table — the Reds sit 10th out of 11 teams — Robles believes Toronto FC are still in that top tier.
“They’ve had so much success last year, they have so many good players, a very expensive roster,” Robles said. “I know it hasn’t been great for them lately, but I still feel like because they are defending champions that they are the team to beat.”